Lateral load tire testing system

Abstract

A lateral load testing system for testing a tire mounted on a rotatable spindle, the tire tester including a load assembly, a spindle frame having a support extending therefrom, a spindle housing defining a spindle bore adapted to rotatably receive the spindle, the spindle housing having a support opposite the support on the spindle frame, and a load cell located between the supports, where each support is attached to the load cell. The load cell is in electrical communication with a controller. The spindle frame is moveable to cause the tire to engage the load assembly, whereby lateral forces generated between the load wheel and tire are measured by the load cell and communicated to the controller.

1. A lateral load tire testing system for testing a tire mounted on a rotatable spindle, the system comprising:
 a load assembly; 
 a tire support assembly configured to place the tire in contact with said load assembly, wherein said tire support assembly includes a spindle frame and a spindle housing, said spindle frame having a support extending therefrom; 
 said spindle housing defining a spindle bore adapted to rotatably receive the spindle, said spindle housing having a support opposite said support on said spindle frame; 
 a load cell located between and attached to said supports, said load cell being adapted to measure forces resulting from relative axial movement between said supports, said load cell being in electrical communication with a controller, whereby lateral forces are measured by said load cell and communicated to said controller; and 
 wherein said tire support assembly is pivotable about a pivot axis extending tangentially to said load assembly at a point where the tire contacts said load assembly to create a camber angle between the tire and said load assembly. 
 
   
   
     2. A lateral load tire testing system for measuring lateral forces on a tire, the system comprising:
 a load assembly engagable with the tire; 
 a tire support assembly including; 
 a spindle housing having a pair of first supports extending radially outward therefrom; 
 a spindle adapted to support the tire, said spindle being rotatably supported on said spindle housing; 
 a spindle frame having a pair of second supports extending outward therefrom opposite said first supports; 
 wherein said first supports and second supports are coupled to each other, such that, said spindle frame supports said spindle housing yet allows said spindle housing to move axially relative to said spindle frame; and 
 a pair of load cells supported by said first and second supports and adapted to detect forces at said tire from relative axial movement of said first and second supports. 
 
   
   
     3. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2 , wherein said tire support assembly is rotatable about an axis exiting radially outward from said load assembly; and
 an actuator attached to said tire support assembly and adapted to selectively cause rotation thereof. 
 
   
   
     4. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 3 , wherein said activator is a hydraulic cylinder. 
   
   
     5. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2 , wherein said tire support assembly is supported on a sub-frame; and
 said sub-frame being rotatable about a pivot axis to camber the tire relative to said load assembly. 
 
   
   
     6. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2 , wherein each of said load cells is respectively located between a first support and a second support. 
   
   
     7. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2  further comprising at least one spacer insertable between one of said load cells and one of said supports, said spacer having a selected thickness adapted to calibrate said load cell. 
   
   
     8. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2 , wherein said load assembly includes a rotatable load wheel. 
   
   
     9. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 2  further comprising a junction box in electrical communication with each of said load cells and also is in communication with a controller, wherein said junction box includes a plurality of switches corresponding to said load cells, said switches being adapted to selectively transmit signals from said load cells to said controller. 
   
   
     10. The lateral load tire testing system of  claim 8 , wherein said junction box is adapted to combine said signals from said load cells and transmit a single signal to said controller. 
   
   
     11. A method of measuring lateral loads on a tire comprising:
 providing a load assembly and a spindle located adjacent to said load assembly, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support said tire and selectively engage said tire with said load wheel; 
 supporting said spindle in a spindle housing that is attached to a spindle frame yet movable axially relative thereto; and 
 coupling a load cell to said spindle housing and spindle frame measuring axial loads generated by movement of said spindle housing relative to said spindle frame to determine lateral forces on the tire wherein said measuring step includes coupling a load cell between said spindle housing and said spindle frame to monitor relative movement therebetween. 
 
   
   
     12. A method of measuring lateral loads on a tire comprising:
 providing a load assembly and a spindle located adjacent to said load assembly, said spindle being adapted to rotatably support said tire and selectively engage said tire with said load wheel; 
 supporting said spindle in a spindle housing that is attached to a spindle frame yet movable axially relative thereto: 
 coupling a load cell to said spindle housing and spindle frame measuring axial loads generated by movement of said spindle housing relative to said spindle frame to determine lateral forces on the tire; and 
 before measuring lateral forces, calibrating said load cell, wherein the step of calibrating includes applying a given load to said spindle and inserting a spacer having a selected thickness between either of said spindle frame and spindle housing and said load cell to cause said load cell to display said given load.